Amidst a sea of differences, there is one notable agreement between the BDS Movement and Israel’s conservative Minister of Culture: their shared dislike for ‘No Other Land’, an Israeli-Palestinian documentary film which recently crowned as the winner at the Academy Awards. Much debate is circulating around the premiere film, with critics in one camp labeling it as an unflattering portrayal of Israel, while opponents in the other camp argue the film indirectly contributes to the continuance of Israeli wrongdoings.
This intense disagreement swirling around the film has inadvertently brought together two dramatically opposite sects: those who support Israel ardently and those who critique its policies. Both groups, united in their belief, are asserting that `No Other Land’ is a film worth the public’s attention.
The acclaimed documentary delves into the destruction caused by Israeli activities in the Masafer Yatta, a Palestinian community located in the West Bank. The narrative is driven by vividly illustrating the struggles of normal people amidst political conflict.
During the Oscar award acceptance speeches, Basel Adra, the Palestinian co-director of the film, remarked on what he perceives as the ‘ethnic cleansing of Palestinian individuals’. Concurrently, his colleague, Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham, expressed his desire to see an end to Israel’s ‘unequal’ stance towards Palestinians.
However, the film’s stance has not gone without contestation. Various Israeli government representatives and some advocates who favor Israel have fiercely criticized the film. They argue it presents a one-sided version of the events, underrepresenting the Israeli perspectives and failing to sufficiently acknowledge the horrific impact of Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023.
Israel’s Minister of Culture, Miki Zohar, asserted that the film’s triumph at the Oscars constituted ‘a gloomy day for film globally’. Her critique indicates the high level of controversy and heated debate related to the film’s content and messaging.
‘No Other Land’ and its creators have found themselves on the wrong side of the anti-normalization standards as declared by PACBI. The activist group criticizes the film for serving a ‘soft Zionist purpose’ – highlighting certain injustices but also perpetuating a Zionist narrative rather than focusing on the decolonization and liberation of Palestinians ‘on our own terms’, in the words of one activist.
In a metaphorical chess game of sociopolitical commentary, the initial backlash against the film has since triggered a reverse backlash. More than a hundred Israeli filmmakers have pledged their support for the film, adamantly signing a defense letter.
Several well-known figures within the Israeli film industry are also among those who have openly expressed their support for ‘No Other Land’, throwing their weight behind the beleaguered documentary and raising the profile of its defense.
Simultaneously, defenders of Israel have stepped up their advocacy efforts, combating the wave of criticism with positive commentary on the documentary on various social media platforms.
On the Palestinian side, their representation hasn’t remained silent, either. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom, took the opportunity to publicly applaud Adra’s Oscar win.
Thus, at its core, the debate around ‘No Other Land’ resonates beyond the simple matter of its content. It’s a contentious landscape that has roped in individuals, organizations and political figures, each using the film to stake out their positions and advance their narratives.
In the end, while ‘No Other Land’ shines a spotlight on a specific regional issue, it has become a conduit for larger conversations around geopolitics, cultural norms, and biases. Regardless of the differing viewpoints, the film’s resonance and impact will continue to ripple through the international film and political communities for a time to come.
As the dust continues to settle around the film’s contentious release and subsequent Oscar win, one thing remains clear: ‘No Other Land’ has prompted a significant discussion, not only about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also about the role of cinema and narrative in presenting complex geopolitical realities. It’s a debate that will undoubtedly continue to shape discourse in the world of international cinema and well beyond.